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Tablets: The new way we learn?

Tablets have had an impact on a good junk of businesses in various fields, for better or worse! In the following article we look at the impact tablets have on the education sector. The articles go over what the advantages are of having tablets in the classrooms and how they do not only benefit the students but also the teachers. So which tablet is the best option? Apple? There is a school in Switzerland that even bought its teachers and students iPads. In my high school we had iPads and for some students they helped but others it proved to be a distraction. Are tablets the future of learning in the classroom? If yes, than how do you prevent the iPad from becoming a distraction? The iPad could revolutionize how we learn and help kids who have disabilities.

19 Responses to Tablets: The new way we learn?

The tablet has greatly polarized the technology industry, they are undoubtedly the hottest topic in mobility. It seems wherever you go someone is using them, what was once a niche device has become a hot-selling phenomenon for millions of users. Consumers have immediate access to digital media marketing and information at their fingertips in an instant. In the past years there have been an explosive growth of consumers adopting the tablet. There are numerous competitors in the market, in an effort to differentiate themselves, tablet supplies offer a variety of products. They blend the mobility and touchscreen of a smartphone with the capabilities of a computing system. In my opinion these devices have the capability to improve the education system by creating an immersive learning environment which stimulates creativity and learning. Society should continue to encourage the adoption of digital devices in the classroom. They would be of great benefits for students, professors and administrators. Right now the devices are making their way into schools by individual purchases. As time increases, students are being asked to pay more for their education. So despite their great potential, it may be difficult for institutions to adopt it as a digital solution simply because of the dual costs that come with it. We should try to find a way to knock down the roadblocks of cost, so institutions can ease into the digital future.
“We now know that technology by itself is not a game changer, but that tablets in particular have the potential to open up the world’s rich store of information to willing minds and expert instruction,” says Michael H. Levine, executive director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop. When I was younger I couldn’t operate the big desktop software. Now it’s much easier for younger children to use technology since they can do it with a simple swipe, or press of their finger. It’s no secret that we are moving to a more digital world, so I believe with even more reason that students should develop these competencies as early as possible. Also if apps are designed well, and appropriately they have the capability of recognizing sounds and letters before since it is more visual and hands on based.
They can even be used as an enhanced eBook, which features images, video and even audio. It’s pointless these days to buy a print textbook when you have the chance to have an integrated learning experience with a tablet. Nonetheless, they can’t totally match laptops but they are pretty much there. Their appeal is perfect for a college student in particular. They are very thin and lightweight which makes them much easier to bring to class than a laptop. In addition, they have exiting educational apps. Fully compatible with online teaching and learning platforms, they can be a great asset in education. They also have longer battery life so students don’t have to worry about carrying a charger with them all the time. The intimacy and immediacy of the personal screen makes it a perfect operating system for the classroom.
My baby sister is 4 years old and is a pro at using an Ipad, it’s almost like second nature now. When I was her age I grew up with dolls and drawing books as my form of leisure and paly. The world is changing and we should definitely learn to adapt to it. We shouldn’t shy children away from such technology, of course there is a limit but I believe that they are an important tool in increasing knowledge so it should never be limited. This industry should not be slept on, it’s increasing by the minute. In fact, I wrote this blog on a tablet on the train.

The tablet is currently a product that is growing in popularity, and it is growing on some schools now as well. Some schools are beginning to become more captivated with the idea of using tablets in their classrooms to teach their students. It is a fact that these tablets have great mobility, and would require kids to carry around less books. Not only would students have to carry around less books, but backpacking off of that idea it would also require students to spend less money on all of these books as well. I think this would be a big help in college nowadays especially because the prices of the books in college is pretty outrageous. Also, the world is clearly heading in a direction where technology will most likely be the most important things in our lives. In fact, the world is sort of like this already because people usually do not leave the house without their phones, or some sort of electronic device that would allow them to connect with their family and friends at the touch of their finger.
The advantages to having tablets in school as a new way to learn is something that outweighs the disadvantages of having them in class. For example, the article mentions that the use of the tablets in school can help students who may have a disability that prevents them from learning at the same rate as the class. The tablets would allow for teachers to teach each student individually, and I think this is an important concept when thinking about a classroom environment you want to be a part of. I know personally I would rather be in a smaller environment when learning because it allows more one on one time with the teacher when in class, and this idea is one of the main reasons why I chose Seton Hall University as my college of choice. It is too easy to drift off in class when you are in a huge lecture hall, but with tablets it would allow the professor to connect with everyone better one on one and give better help. The tablet is a tool that would benefit students not destroy them.
Some people feel that tablets in class would be a distraction to the students, but I would beg to differ. I feel that since students have smartphones nowadays that if they really wanted to not pay attention in class they would just go on their phone. I see it first hand in college, and I think that regardless of whether or not tablets are allowed in class if a student does not want to pay attention they will find a way to make that happen. Tablets would at least allow for more students to benefit from its allowance in the classroom than the amount of students it would distract. Technology is taking off in this day and age, and soon enough it will be a huge part of our everyday lives. I think we might as well give students the chance to get an early jump on using technology in their everyday lives instead of letting them fall behind. The tablets would be great for students, and in my opinion it would raise grades and participation in class so why not give it a chance.

I understand that schools are looking to become more technologically advanced by adapting tablets, but I will always prefer to work on a laptop than a tablet. There’s something about having a laptop, and typing notes rather than using a stylist and a tablet. Tablets are expensive, and the amount schools would need to purchase would cost thousands. Each tablet is expensive and the overall cost of providing tablets to all the students can be a “major drain” on the budget of the school, not just in terms of purchasing hardware, but also deployment and ongoing maintenance. Most school tech support services are “usually in-house, but sometimes an additional skill-set is required to deploy tablet devices campus-wide.” In the long term, the cost can be realized due to the “savings in the cost of purchasing videos and eBooks.” The Lenovo Yoga can transform into a tablet, and I hate it. I can’t stand writing on it because when I press my hand down to write, the pen goes nuts. I can’t write with my hand suspended in the air. Despite that, the Yoga does have a great deal of Apps and downloads. The article states that there are apps such as “Foreign language apps that are very convenient and simple to use, and they are a great way to teach new languages using both visual and audio systems. The 3D Brain App shows and describes all parts of the brain in vivid colors and with excellent imaging. History Maps of the World is one of the most used apps by teachers and students alike.” These are great learning vehicles for students. They can reinforce what was learned in the classroom, and provide extra practice. I do like the touch screen, and can see why tablets would be used in classrooms for the interactive aspect. One aspect of the article I found very interesting, and a bit unsettling was that tablets could eventually replace pen and paper. Students are not getting the practice they need to write out essays, and notes. Some schools are even scratching cursive writing from their curriculum. I learned cursive in second grade, and from there on out I had to write in script. Of course I used less and less cursive as I went to a technology friendly high school. The tablets are not only starting to replace pen and paper, but they are also replacing books. There are “numerous ways in which teachers use these devices in their classrooms.” Complex math problems are made simpler with the use of videos to explain how they can be understood. Classroom projects can be conceptualized first and drawn out in 3D before being completed in actual form. While these are all wonderful classroom advancements, the traditional methods can’t be forgotten. Writing is crucial for young students. As great as technology is, it may do quite a lot of damage in the schools as expected.

The iPad/tablet are beneficial to a lot of people especially students. I know in college the tablet helped me the most. I didn’t have to carry around my heavy laptop because I had the tablet; it was the perfect size to be portable. Like I said earlier, I used a tablet in COLLEGE. I think kids need to wait until they receive a tablet. They definitely need to learn the basics and have a strong foundation before being handed such a huge piece of technology and responsibility.
Kids these days are definitely fast learners when it comes to technology however this technology can easily take away from them learning their basic skills, such as reading comprehension or simple mathematics. Most tablets are kid friendly and have games and applications that can help with these skills. With that said I feel if young kids start to use tablets they will be more inclined to watch shows on YouTube or play regular games. I really think tablets are educationally beneficial to all students but their needs to be an age as to when they should start. If kids are exposed to technology too soon there could be certain deficits in their learning process, which can be problematic for them in the future.

I found this article interesting because we are seeing in schools now that they are using the advances of digital technology to help out when it comes to education. I understand that schools are looking to become more technologically advanced by adapting tablets, but I will always prefer to work on a laptop than a tablet. I think there is something about having a laptop, and typing notes rather than using a stylist and a tablet. For one, tablets are expensive, and the amount schools would need to purchase would cost thousands. Second, each tablet is expensive and the overall cost of providing tablets to all the students can be a “major drain” on the budget of the school, not just in terms of purchasing hardware, but also deployment and ongoing maintenance I know Seton Hall University is a private school and they give everyone of their students a scholarship but, sooner or later the amount of money being spent when become too big to handle. These are great learning vehicles for students. They can reinforce what was learned in the classroom, and provide extra practice. I do like the touch screen, and can see why tablets would be used in classrooms for the interactive aspect. One aspect of the article I found very interesting, and a bit unsettling was that tablets could eventually replace pen and paper. Students are not getting the practice they need to write out essays, and notes. Some schools are even scratching cursive writing from their curriculum. I learned cursive in second grade, and from there on out I had to write in script. Of course I used less and less cursive as I went to a technology friendly high school. The tablets are not only starting to replace pen and paper, but they are also replacing books. There are “numerous ways in which teachers use these devices in their classrooms.” Complex math problems are made simpler with the use of videos to explain how they can be understood. Classroom projects can be conceptualized first and drawn out in 3D before being completed in actual form. While these are all wonderful classroom advancements, the traditional methods can’t be forgotten. Writing is crucial for young students. As great as technology is, it may do quite a lot of damage in the schools as expected because students need to learn basic tools to succeed in the classroom.

Tablets are a marquee invention that allows access to a vast amount of information. Think of it as a fusion between a computer and a phone. The tablet can work to access social media, the internet, and other apps like a computer while also being mobile like a phone. However it differs from both and has become its own thing. I agree with the article that there can be many advantages to using tablet devices for education. These devices can benefit many students in different areas such as music students, science students, and students with special needs. Tablets could potentially replace textbooks as all the information could be installed in the software. It could also replace the need for pen and paper as notes can be recorded on the tablet itself with a stylus. In addition, networking between classes and professors would be more efficient as everyone would be connect via the internet. However, I do believe that the reliance on such technology could also have a negative impact. Tablets could be yet another distraction for students in the classroom like phones and computers are. Another disadvantage is the cost of such technology. Schools would have to make an expensive investment for the purchase and maintenance of these tablets. I believe the benefits outweigh the negatives. They could provide a distraction but I believe students can be distracted by anything and the benefits that the tablets could provide for a wide range of students is worth it.

In high school we were give laptops so everyone could access all of the online information. They were supposed to give us a advantage while working in class but I personally do not think they helped us. They were more of a distraction with all of its capabilities. While we were in class everyone would be on social media. If there was a big game on at the moment or something happened the night before in sports everyone would be watching videos on ESPN. The worst was when we found a game website that was not blocked. That meant the end of the school day because we would be distracted for the whole day with the games. It was very rude for the teachers because they would be talking to the class and everyone would just have their head buried in their computers. Everyone is using tablets now, from grandparents to small children everyone has one. You see some kids at the age of 2 addicted to their IPads they will freak out if their parents take away their devices. There are some upsides to having yours own tablet each student can focus on studying their specific needs. This will also help save the environment because that is important to many people. As we see today it is 60 degrees and it is December 11th. Global warming is real and happening and we need to stop it any way we can. Costs are very high to start but end up paying off in the long run. The high start up costs cause many school districts to not get tablets and computers. People are all about saving money so they hear taxes will go up with this project and many people back out of it then. With the computer purchases the school district would have to set up an IT department which is responsible for all of the repairs of broken computers. This is another expense that the school will have to take on which may cuase some backlash. Apple tablets are the best by far in my mind and would be the best for schools to purchase. These are a little more expensive than other computers but they are worth it in the long run. As we see Apple has proven to have the best products in the industry. Every couple of months they introduce new products that boggle our minds of how advanced they are. Pen and paper is slowly becoming a thing of the past. We see in college that we don’t use pen and paper either. This semester I have not used any paper, everything I have done for school has been done on my laptop. I like this much better because my spelling is not the best and the computers help to solve this. With everyone using less paper this will help with the tree population. Less trees will be cut down due to the lack of paper needed. In conclusion tablets whether we like it or not will be a thing of the future.

I personally don’t care very much for tablets. I’d prefer some sort of laptop than an iPad in a class. Having these in the classroom could have some advantages. The article states “there are many advantages to using tablet devices in a classroom-like environment. Each child has something in his or her hands that provides access to a large volume of knowledge and expertise. Every child is able work at his own pace and the teacher is able to give special attention to those who are slower than the others… children with special needs to catch up with the rest of the class, as the teacher is now watching and dealing with each child individually. The students are able to go back to the previous lessons and correlate with the new lessons, since all classroom material is saved on the tablets. In projects where the impact of tablets was assessed, there was a significant increase in the ability of students to imbibe their lessons and learn new subjects when they worked with tablets and other computing devices”. If there were studies to back up their opinions, tablets could have the possibility of becoming a very important and integral part of education. Tablets should have the effect of improving education, or at least revolutionize the traditional ways of teaching which have been criticized. The article goes on to explain how “Teachers are also benefiting immensely from these technologies, since they are able to make their subjects much more interesting using 3D images, and they have to spend less effort developing slides and visual aids to help them teach better. Introducing web cams to the classroom… Tablets have not only changed how children are taught, they have also changed the pace of learning for each child. Fewer teachers can teach a greater number of students, and fewer resources need to be spent by the schools to provide the best teaching tools for their teachers”. I don’t think that having fewer teachers teaching more students is the best option. There should still be that physical presence of a teacher in the classroom. But, the use of this technology should be advantageous to creativity and learning if used properly. Tablets can also be distractions to learning. One of the best uses of a tablet for me is the replace of books. Hopefully the prices of textbooks will decrease with the increase of demand for digital versions. In the long run, schools may save money with the use of tablets.

In my life today I have yet to own a tablet or an iPad. I really don’t see a use in it if I own a laptop, but I do think having an iPad is a good way to start adapting to new technology, it will help children to start adjusting to what people use on a daily basis, smart phones. Many schools have adapted to new technology and give there student’s iPads instead of using massive amounts of paper. “Education and learning have acquired a new face since the advent of the tablet PC’s, such as iPads and other tablets. There has been a sea change in the manner of teaching, and students have been the biggest beneficiaries in this new scenario. The benefits of tablets as a leisure or work-related device have been evident from the day they hit the market. However, teachers and educationists have also now begun to use them as excellent teaching aids.” Having iPad can help children stay organized not only with their class work but with their daily lives. There are many apps that can guide them to learn in class so if they do not understand what the teacher has taught them in class. As people say “they have an app for that”. “The impact on the learning sector is being felt not only in the classroom, but also in homes. From grandparents to small children, everyone is using tablet devices to gain knowledge and to improve their understanding of the world around them. Whether it is downloading podcasts or free online courses, or whether it is for playing games that help improve one’s concentration, the world of learning has come much closer to them and easy to reach out to. With these tablet devices, it is also now quite easy to be part of online classrooms.”
Now the only issue that schools are running into are the distractions the iPad brings to the students when in class. Because let’s face it, class is generally not that fun, and kids of a young age typically get distracted at lot. Using me as example, if I was able to use an iPad during my everyday school schedule in high school, I would not be passing my classes, due to all the apps that you are able to download. But there are many ways to overcome these distractions that kids may have in the classroom. First of all I would create a Wi-Fi based network that does not allow the children to enter gamed apps unless approved by the teacher in the classroom. Or I would take just the teachers be able to access what the students are doing on the iPads during class, after all it is the schools IPad that are given to them, So they have authority over it. “Tablet devices are here to stay in the classroom. The US government is investing millions in deploying Amplify Devices nationwide and the UK government is following suit with their own selected hardware. With hardware costs continuously dropping, it will only be a matter of time before pen and paper is permanently replaced by the touch screen display.”http://www.computerhowtoguide.com/2013/05/impact-of-tablet-devices-on-education-sector.html

The education system has gone through quite a change, from PCs to tablets and iPads. Not only in the classroom but outside it as well. People can learn something new within the comfort of their own home while sitting on the couch watching TV. We do not necessarily have to sit at the family computer anymore since we have access to a world of knowledge at our finger tips. All it takes is a little effort to learn about the world around you because everything is right in front of you. School wise, I found it interesting that it actually helps students work at their own pace. I remember kids I went to elementary school with who flew through their work as fast as lightning and then some other kids needed a bit more extra time to truly understand a concept. It stinks when you think everyone understands material faster than yourself so this could definitely help boost self-esteem to children. Children with special needs are also eligible to catch up with the rest of the class from tablets. I also found it interesting from one of the articles how “there was a significant increase in the ability of students to imbibe their lessons and learn new subjects when they worked with tablets and other computing devices.” There is nothing more important than having the ability to apply the information learned and tablets have proven to be affective in that way. They make a teacher’s life ten times easier too because they do not need to spend time making a PowerPoint or other visual aids to lecture the class; everything a student needs is right in front of them. Just like previous posts about how the customer and sales representative relationship changed

I wish high schools gave their students and teachers iPads like the one school in Switzerland did. Seton Hall allocating laptops to every student definitely helps enrich the education process for us. Even though I have a laptop of my own, some students may not be able to afford them. One argument someone has with implementing tablets into elementary schools is understandable: “Do we really want to give $500 devices to kids who can’t even tie their shoes?” Surprisingly, I’ve seen many children super careful with their hand held devices. Many parents this day in age are giving their kids tablets to learn basic concepts such as adding, subtracting, reading while most of my generation had to turn to paper workbooks and coloring books to learn. Sure, we had some online PC programs but nothing like there is today. To prevent damage and other misuses of laptops, schools should provide state of the art protective coverings for each tablet. So they remain in good shape before the school needs to invest in new hardware and software when the current tablets come outdated. I believe students will receive more out of school, no matter what level of education, if schools decide to allocate tablets to their students.

I would say about half of the articles posted on these blogs have to do with technology. And that is because, as I have mentioned multiple times, technology is growing at a substantial rate and is only going to continue to grow in today’s world and the world of the future. When I was growing up, the only portable technology that kids had under the age of, let’s say, 14 was the Gameboy or the Nintendo DS. When you look at kids these days, sometimes under 8 years old…they have smart phones and tablets and all types of technology. Functioning properly in today’s world is almost impossible without technology.
Clearly, I am at the college level of education but I know that classrooms of younger ages (between elementary to high schools) are also heavily involving technology in their teaching. Like this article mentioned, some schools are actually supplying the technology to their students…specifically tablets. Tablets are, in my opinion, a great innovation. They are small are more compact than computers (because of their lack of a keyboard) but they are bigger than smart phones. As far as bringing them into school environments, I can definitely see both sides of the dispute. They are extremely helpful and bring modernism into the classroom but they can easily become a huge distraction.
Along with all of the other evolutions in technology, tablets are going to be unavoidable someday in the classroom. They are easily going to become a part of most teaching techniques. But how are we going to make sure they remain a means of learning and not a distraction to the material? There was an article that I commented on recently that talked about why graphing calculators are still around even though there is more than likely an application that can perform the same tasks. A controversy was the fact that there is always going to be standardized testing and if students were using an application, then who is going to stop them from using the device for other outlets. The article then talked about how by the time graphing calculators become less popular, there is going to be a way that we can block out any other applications during the time of the testing.
I think that this could be what is going to happen if tablets become a big part of classrooms in the future. With that being said, I think the distractions are endless and are always going to be completely unavoidable. Students have cell phones that they can find distractions on if they can get away with it, students can go on their computers if allowed, they can even doodle and that is enough of a distraction. All in all, tablets are in my opinion a good way to keep students interacting in the classroom. They can do a lot of functions that would not be able to be done otherwise. I personally feel that the upcoming generations are particularly lucky to be growing up in a world revolving around technology…it is and is going to continue to change the world.

Recently all I have been reading about it technology in blogs I have read. Technology is something that the world has been using for some time. It has been growing for years and now it has a large effect on the people today. Not only does it help out older people but it can now help out the young students. When I was growing up we did not have the advanced technology they have today. The only technology I could remember was the video game systems I had and some had phones. The phones were not even as advanced, I remember seeing many flip phones when I was growing up. Barely any kids had phones when I went to elementary school. Now I see all these kids having phones at a young age. Not only do they have that but the phones today are smartphones. The new generation has been growing up with technology better than I was. I have a friend who has a little brother that was given a tablet at the age of two. By the age of three, he knew a lot and how to work it. Today he is 5 and learned a lot from the tablet. He would download apps from it and learned the alphabet from it, he is even learning Spanish from the tablet. I remember growing up, the only way to learn was from someone teaching you or by a book. This kid showed me how much a tablet helps out the kid, and how it can benefit them. I always thought bringing technology into lower education would not be good for students. In reality the technology is just helping them out and getting them to learn better ways. As the article said, there are some schools that are now providing tablets to the schools for them to use. Tablets are not cheap at all. For the amount of students that they have in school could be too much for the schools budget. I do not know how exactly they could pull that off but I do think tablets will come into the education system in the near future. It is only a matter of time that the education system will see that it can actually benefit the way of learning for the students and make it easier for the teachers themselves. Technology is basically a way to make life easier. The problem with tablets is that possibilities that it can become a distraction to many students. Lets face it, many students have been using there smartphones in school almost all the time. A phone itself is a distraction, the students start to ignore the teacher and start going on their phones. Having a tablet could be an easier way to get distracted, they have a device they can use in front of a teacher and be doing other things they are not supposed to be doing on it. If they can find a way to block certain things on the tablet, or even make all of them connect to the teachers so they can check what is going on with every student then they might be able to work. Kids today think they can get away with things, many will try to go online while they ate working on other things and take full advantage of it. While they can be a way of distraction, if they find a way to prevent all of that I believe tablets are the best for the education of the students. Tablets are eventually going to replace pen and paper soon. With all the eBooks out there and now apps that help out, it is something that may possibly occur. Once again technology keeps on improving this world and it will not stop.

I found this article to be interesting because my high school, Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology provide all the students with IPads. Assignments were posted online and our textbooks were also on the tablet. At the rate that we are moving, in 10-20 years, textbooks will be replaced by tablets. Everything is simply stored on the tablet. As technology advances and begins to play a pivotal role, it is important to teach students how to utilize this digital technology. This invention allows us to gain vast amounts of information. Now a days, everyone from all ages is using a laptop. My nephews were able to use a table before being able to speak! For all those environmentalist, tablets and laptops protect the trees. Some other advantages of using the tablet for education include children being able to work at their own pace, it helps students with special needs to catch up with their class, students can go back to previous lessons and making subjects more interesting through 3D images. Tablets are more convenient and one no longer has to carry those heavy textbooks, pens and papers. As a current college student, I barely use a pen in class because I take all my notes on my laptop. The article also points that complex math problems will made simpler through the use of videos. Classroom projects can become more interesting through 3D design. By using tablets students are also exposed to Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint which are critical for any career path. The use of tablets will allows teachers to connect with their students. However, tablets in the classroom also have their disadvantages because they can cause distractions. When I was in high school students would use these tablets to send IMessage, go on social media, stream sport games and play games. The IT department had to put restriction on certain functions on the IPAD. It was a major distraction because it cause students to focus less on the material being taught. There was times when I was looking at other stuff during class. Buying tablets for everyone is an investment which comes with a hefty price tag. The school would also have to pay for an IT Department which can also affect the school’s budget. But in long run, schools will actually save money by taking on this initiative because digital versions are cheaper. What I like about digital versions of textbooks is that they provide a vast amount of resources in order to understand the material through things such as quizzes and videos. During my Finte Math course my freshmen year, the textbook was digital and the homework that was assigned was online. The questions on the homework each came with a video that helped me comprehend the concept being taught better. Even though Apple tablets are more expensive, I believe that they are the best to use in school or in a work environment. Every job requires to have an understanding of technology so it is a great that institutions are starting early in educating students the subject matter.

It is very clear that iPads and other tablets are used often in the classroom by both students and teachers. These devices are very convenient for both notes taken by students and for lectures being shown by professors. The only obvious issue with these devices being regularly used in the classroom is that they can cause a distraction for the students and stop them from learning the material begin presented by the teacher.
A very easy way for this issue to be avoided is by simply blocking certain things on the iPad therefor stopping any issue of it causing a distraction. The most common thing I see being used in the classroom are computers, these are a huge distraction as people never actually do their work and are normally on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or some other form of social media. By setting restrictions on the iPad’s the school can monitor what the students do and make sure they are always paying attention to the work that is presented to them during the class.
Overall I feel that incorporating technology into the classroom can be very good for the students. At the same time, I do not want the kids to be completely taken away from the traditional way of being taught by taking notes with a pen and paper.

I want to start off by saying that technology in general is the new way that we learn. This generation has grown up in such a technology dependent era, that it is almost impossible to picture the world with no computers or cell phones. I remember as a little kid playing on my Gameboy at the pool and rather playing my games than swimming. In grammar school it was all about which Pokémon you had or if could keep Tamagotchi alive. During those days, in the classroom, I remember the teacher putting those see through sheets on a projector to go over homework. As I went to middle school, there were laptops that we used once and a while to do research but it was not overused. Then in high school, every student had to buy a Chromebook that they could do their work on. There were overhead projectors and Smartboards in every class. Technology is very beneficial, but I find it detrimental sometimes because I end up watching sports highlights or playing Tetris is some classes in high school. Now, in college it is very similar to the way that my high school was set up technology wise.
This article talks about tablets being the new way that students learn. More and more schools are moving towards the learning process of using tablets and other technology to benefit teachers and students. Everything has become so accessible so why not take advantage of the plethora of knowledge that we have at our fingertips. It goes on to talk about how Android devices may be the best in-classroom devices because they are less expensive and still very efficient. Teachers are using this technology to create 3D images for their students and have to spend less effort developing visual aids for their lessons. There also needs to be good software on the devices to allow them to be used to their full potential including 3D Brain App, History Maps of the World, Garage Band, and Teacher’s Assistant Pro for teachers.
The article concludes to talk about how they believe that the tablet will replace pen and paper. While I do believe that these devices are here to stay in the classroom, nothing has the power to replace pen and paper. I still prefer to take notes with pen and paper because I understand the material better when I write it down as opposed to tying it on the computer. Even if I am writing on a device it does not replace the feel of a pen and paper. The key to making this all work will be the willingness of teachers and the ability of teachers to teach the material while implementing this technology. If a teacher wants to talk at a class for an hour, it will never work. The attention span of a human is too short and the urge of looking at something else on the internet will be too big for students to resist. There needs to be a constant engagement between the teacher and student, and the students need to be challenged to use their technology for learning purposes. I think it can be done, but I do not know if it will ever be done correctly.

Like Jordan Panella, the author of this post, my high school also used tablets in some classes and even went as far as provided every student in the lower school, kindergarten through 5th grade with tablets to do work on. This new way of teaching taught the students to become digital literate and also to be able to simultaneously work with each other without being on the same device. These are two essential life skills to acquire before being thrown in the real world was they finished their educational career. Due to the fact that our world, more specifically, our generation is moving toward a technology dominant society without learning how to use these devices or how to take advantage of the benefits they provide will significantly set that individual back from the rest of his peers. However, as Jordan pointed out there are also some down sides to these devices being in schools told, which are the distracting component they provide to the person using it. Unless censored from all games and other apps, a student as the power to look up or do almost anything they wanted on these devices, which would become a major problem for a class with someone unwilling to listen to the rules. Then in this type of circumstance these devices would become more counterproductive then beneficial since the students can easily wonder off into the limitless world of the internet.

Furthermore, tablets are also a great way in which to help students with disabilities because it is another way to present them the material. Being dyslexic, I am aware of the learning challenges an individual may face when learning material for the first time. Having something like a tablet to sound words out and read my sentences I write back to me would be incomparable and would vastly improve my schooling. Another problem that could be resolved with dyslexic students would be using the tablets to emphasize key letters or words that confuses that person. So when writing a page that individual will be able to look at his troubling words or letters and be able to hear what they sound like, which would extremely beneficial. Additionally, other types of disabilities can also be helped with this technology due to the fact that it is a fun and interactive way to teach a student a subject besides merely lecturing in front of the class.

Given these advantages and disadvantages of these greatly innovative devices, tablets can be the future of learning in the classroom when, and only when, the educational system finds a way to constantly monitor their school devices and has restricted the tablets abilities to do anything but academic demands, which includes apps and surfing the internet. This will ensure that the use of the tablets is purely for the student’s education and not just another way to mess around with their friends. Students will learn essential digital literacy skills they will most definitely need later in their adult life, while also providing an alternative to simply lecturing.

For years technology has been making its way into the education sector, and with the incorporation of tablets, it aggregates to the belief of the way that it is changing the traditional view of education. Not only for the way it is helping to change the view of school for students, but for the new methods that educators can incorporate to have their students prepared better. No more does education have to be looked at a way in which it is just reading, memorization, and note-taking. I believe that tablets offer a new added benefit that will aid students in a variety of ways and help to develop everyone’s sense of better learning. Not every student learns with the same exact method, either visually, audio, or kinetically. Having tablets integrated into the classroom setting helps to expand and cater to each student’s needs, making sure that they are getting the best form of education suited to their needs while at the same time accomplishing each grade’s academic requirements.
I do see tablets having as being something to revolutionize instead of hinder the education field because of the added benefit it can bring to both students and instructors. Teachers are not limited as to the knowledge they can bring into the classroom, they can learn and expand on learning methods to help their students reach a full potential. A new adjustment to learning is also necessary because our world just does not revolve around the ideology that memorization is the key to learning. Our world is expanding and other countries are exceeding the United States in having better forms of education in their progressive society. It should be time that we take notes on how to develop our education system. In one of the hyperlinks that led to the article, “The Smart Way to Use IPads in the Classroom” it discusses how the Zurich International School in Switzerland, a private school that teaches students from first to eighth grade, has incorporated tablets into their education system and their experience thus far. Teachers have use of the tablet helps to develop students’ ways of processing and understanding the material they learn. The tablets provide a more hands-on approach to learning into helping them to grasp the concept of how things or topics work the way they do and the most essential question, why. The teachers use the video camera to capture the students moments of learning and experiences, that children and go back themselves and reflect from the videos or the work performed on the tablet. This way they understand an approach and reach that moment of “aha” of achieving a deep learning and grasp more through experience and apply it through their own real life experiences.
From my experience, in my school district in Parsippany, New Jersey, I have seen for a few years the introduction of tablets being used in all levels of education, from k-12th grade. At first, tablets were introduced in the school district to students with mental disabilities. In the lower grade levels, these tablets were not to be taken home but only to be used in the classroom, while the grades from 9th to 12th were given tablets to use at school and take home. There have been several added benefits that I have seen from my younger sister and brother who have had the privilege of using tablets during their education. Their textbooks are now online and there is no need to be carrying all of that added weight back and forth from home to school anymore. My sister does her essays online now, writes them, has her peers edit it online, and sends it electronically. No more hand-in papered essays anymore. To them, everything is online now at literally the touch of their fingers. They have so much access to the outside world and are not confined to textbooks for information. Their educational lives do not revolves around books and papers like ours did, but they can grow and expand their knowledge much for easily and at a faster rate. Both of my siblings have enjoyed having tablets in their respective schools because of the added benefit that if they do not understand a topic in whatever subject they are viewing, they can easily look it up to get videos or other visual aids that can help clearly their understanding. So from personally what I have seen, if school districts have the funds and power to incorporate tablets into their school systems, they should take advantage of the situation.

I found this blog post interesting because my school system provided Apple MacBook Airs to all teachers and students in middle school (6-8th grade) and high school. As I progressed through the grades, I used the laptop that the school provided for various things and I found it very efficient. School work and lessons felt much more advanced and fun. Typing was much easier and an online resource called StudyWiz allowed us to check for homework online and even submit assignments, which is similar to blackboard. As I was provided with this technology for such a long time compared to other students, I gained a lot of knowledge about technology, how to type, and use the programs that better enable learning. As opposed to tablet however, I do find laptops to be more beneficial because it has a keyboard and gets students ready for college where a laptop is pretty much needed. A good and bad thing about the laptops that my school district gave us was that many websites and apps were blocked. Game websites were blocked, which was good for teachers, but unfortunate for students. Apps such as iMessage were blocked, but some students would find ways around the wall. Personally, I think that laptops are the new way to learn as they have pretty much the same capability as a tablet, but are much more efficient and relevant to students.

Something that is very funny is that when I was coming to Seton Hall, I actually thought the university handed out Macs as well. To my surprise, I was given the Lenovo and was immediately disappointed as I have been used to a totally different laptop my whole life. I know all the shortcuts and ins and outs of the Apple computers, but I am starting to get used to the one Seton Hall gave to me, as I cannot complain it is included with my tuition.

As far as the productivity of tablets in the education system, I would say they do have a major role in teaching. They do provide much more ways of displaying and spreading knowledge. Although my school did not give tablets out, other surrounding schools are given iPads. As they may have a major role in teaching, it is true that many students get side tracked on games and other things they shouldn’t be doing. This is well noted throughout faculty, but the benefits seem to be well worth it. I think what my school did with the laptops was brilliant where they got rid of many distractive utilities on the device. I think this would greatly reduce the distractions and increase the effectiveness of tablets extremely. I personally see many more positives to implementing such technology into education than negatives because these tools will help students grasp a taste of what the future is going to look like and what is being taught. Ultimately, I would say that not only tablets, but laptops and computers, are beneficial to all kids, especially ones that have disabilities. On that note, these devices are certainly the new way we learn.

As a part of the technological evolution that is taking place in society, we can add tablets replacing textbooks to the list as well. It’s amazing, because it seems everything that once seemed like a pipe dream is now actually coming to reality. With all of the other advances that technology has made, such as making the smartphone an everyday item, the computer a household appliance, and bringing video communication to our relatives that live on the other side of the world, it only seems fitting that tablets find their way into the equation too.

It seems just like yesterday when the first iPad came out. It was all the talk around my school, but only the rich could afford one. I remember thinking to myself that I wouldn’t be able to get one until I was at least 40, because it seemed so expensive at the time and almost none of my friends had one (the only one was rich). Now, if you don’t have an iPad people tend to think something’s wrong with you. Next thing you know, Samsung, Google and every other one of Apple’s competitors came out with a smart tablet as well. I can’t even begin to imagine what other kind of crazy new, innovative piece of technology that the world will come up with next. Whatever kind of tablet you use, whyether it be an iPad, Samsung Notebook, or whatever type of tablet that you prefer, they all have the same basic functions. They can access the internet, make video calls, complete assignments, make business transactions, just name it. Whatever use you need, a smart tablet can probably do for you somehow.

A smart tablet is essentially a personal computer that you can take with you on the move. And another great function it has: being able to read books. Recently, companies been releasing their materials online, and now tablets are picking up on that, allowing people to buy their textbooks and download them straight to their tablets. So instead of having to carry around five 1000-page textbooks in your book bag all day while going to class, you can just download them onto your tablet and pull it up when you need it. In addition, new features allow for people to take notes in their tablets as well, effectively eliminating the need to carry around notebooks as well. And when you combine that with the fact that the internet is basically an endless encyclopedia of information that can be accessed at a second’s notice, tablets have become the quickest way for people to learn. They can read, take notes, and do research without the hassle of have to carry around so many different heavy materials.

It may be a little hard to accept, but it seems tablets are starting to take over. This is the digital age after all, so it only seems fitting. With all of the great new features that it offers, plus the fact that they are so convenient as well, it’s hard to blame people for wanting to use them. I even have all my textbooks downloaded onto my tablet, so I can speak from experience. It seems that tablets are hear to stay, so maybe we should all start utilizing them to their fullest capabilities as well.